Strongman, The
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Review
[A]lively and absorbing study.... [Roxburgh] is especially well placed to tell the story of how the west s early enthusiasm for Putin turned sour. --Luke Harding, Guardian
[Written] with admirable even-handedness and insight...The Strongman is not only political history; it is informed by the author s close acquaintance with many of the prime players...Every chapter of this book is worth reading. --Mary Dejevsky, Independent
A sober assessment of Putin years, illuminated by Angus Roxburgh's first-hand experience and long acquaintance with Russia --Bridget Kendall, BBC diplomatic correspondent
We need an insider to give us some insight into what has really been going on since 1999, when Putin went from unknown to acting president. It is fortunate then that we have Angus Roxburgh... fair, nuanced and well written...His account of the complete mutual incomprehension between his employers, Ketchum, and the Russians they worked with is fascinating. --Sunday Telegraph
...an old Russian hand. [Roxburgh] takes us behind the curtain of the Kremlin press section....he is at his best in a chapter on fraught Georgian-Russian relations, capturing the culpability on all sides. --Stephen Kotkin, TLS
[Written] with admirable even-handedness and insight...The Strongman is not only political history; it is informed by the author s close acquaintance with many of the prime players...Every chapter of this book is worth reading. --Mary Dejevsky, Independent
A sober assessment of Putin years, illuminated by Angus Roxburgh's first-hand experience and long acquaintance with Russia --Bridget Kendall, BBC diplomatic correspondent
We need an insider to give us some insight into what has really been going on since 1999, when Putin went from unknown to acting president. It is fortunate then that we have Angus Roxburgh... fair, nuanced and well written...His account of the complete mutual incomprehension between his employers, Ketchum, and the Russians they worked with is fascinating. --Sunday Telegraph
...an old Russian hand. [Roxburgh] takes us behind the curtain of the Kremlin press section....he is at his best in a chapter on fraught Georgian-Russian relations, capturing the culpability on all sides. --Stephen Kotkin, TLS
Product Description
Russia under Vladimir Putin has proved a prickly partner for the West, a far cry from the democratic ally many hoped for when the Soviet Union collapsed. Abroad, he has used Russia's energy might as a foreign policy weapon, while at home he has cracked down on opponents, adamant that only he has the right vision for his country's future. Former BBC Moscow correspondent Angus Roxburgh charts the dramatic fight for Russia's future under Vladimir Putin - how the former KGB man changed from reformer to autocrat, how he sought the West's respect but earned its fear, how he cracked down on his rivals at home and burnished a flamboyant personality cult, one day saving snow leopards or horse-back riding bare-chested, the next tongue-lashing Western audiences. Drawing on dozens of exclusive interviews in Russia, where he worked for a time as a Kremlin insider advising Putin on press relations, as well as in the US and Europe, Roxburgh also argues that the West threw away chances to bring Russia in from the cold, by failing to understand its fears and aspirations following the collapse of communism.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was very pleased and even surprised by the author's insights and understanding of Russian politics, Russian mentality and their "eternal" distrust of the West. Everything in this book could be verified which makes it trustworthy, no gossips just hard facts. Well done and I wish Angus Roxbourgh all the best. Highly recommended!
Albert from Ireland
[...]
Albert from Ireland
[...]
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This was a great read.
As someone who's worked in a related field and dealt with many of the issues and some of the events that Mr. Roxburgh tackles, I found the book not just enlightening but also engaging, well-written and witty. I found myself smiling and cringing, thinking of the situations he covers and their relevance on the world stage. I often found myself jealous of the author's privileged place to experience Russia and the government, but he conveys his insight in a thought-provoking manner.
A must for any Russophile but also for students of history and politics or for anyone who wants a good book (and what a great cover!).
As someone who's worked in a related field and dealt with many of the issues and some of the events that Mr. Roxburgh tackles, I found the book not just enlightening but also engaging, well-written and witty. I found myself smiling and cringing, thinking of the situations he covers and their relevance on the world stage. I often found myself jealous of the author's privileged place to experience Russia and the government, but he conveys his insight in a thought-provoking manner.
A must for any Russophile but also for students of history and politics or for anyone who wants a good book (and what a great cover!).
6 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The book has all sorts of gripping details about Putin and his way of working. The problem is that the author can not bring himself to explain Putin in terms of his KGB/Soviet background alone. He confusingly seeks to blame the West for being 'insensitive' to Russia, although in suggesting that we push for war crimes trials for Russian excesses in Chechnya he might seem a bit insensitive himself?
As a diplomat who spent five years grappling with the problems of the collapse of the Soviet Union, I hereby tell you that the problem was that we were too sensitive to Russia's communist past and did not push hard enough (or even at all) to clean out some of the worst people and principles.
I have written a review for LSE EUROPP, going into this in more detail: [...]
As a diplomat who spent five years grappling with the problems of the collapse of the Soviet Union, I hereby tell you that the problem was that we were too sensitive to Russia's communist past and did not push hard enough (or even at all) to clean out some of the worst people and principles.
I have written a review for LSE EUROPP, going into this in more detail: [...]
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good and interesting
This is an interesting book, written by an old Russia hand. It summarises the Putin era (and the toxic Yeltsin legacy), with lengthy asides about the man himself, but concentrates... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Evgenian
A good read!
Bought this book as a Christmas gift for a Russian son in law and he has thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Published 4 months ago by J.ENGLISH
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